Manufacture of lamp stems



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Sepml @93%, A. HQFMANN ET AL MANUFAcTUR-E 0F LAMP sTEMs Filed N ov. 24, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 SW@ F9 A. HQFMANN ET AL MANUFACTURE OF' LAMP STEMS Filed Nov. 24, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 pt., lglgu A. HQFMANN ET Ax.,

MANUFACTURE 0F LAMP sTEMs Filed Nov. 24, 1934. 9 sheets-sheet 5 9 Sheets-Sheet v14:

.ef/gi@ Filed NOV. 24, 1954 a D G. T 6 BY hmmm@ MM ATTORNEYSV Sept. l5, 1936. A HOFMANN ET AL 2,054,627

. MANUFACTURE OF LAMP STEMS Filed Nov. 24, 1934 9 sheets-sheet 5 ...1 A @n INVENTORS 2' ATTORNEYS;

Sept. 1 5, 19:36. A HQFMANN E1- AL v 2,054,627

MANUFACTURE OF LAMP STEMS Y Filed Nov. 24, l1954 9 sweeps-sheet 6 "y 13mm QM sept. 15, 1936.

A. HOFMANN ET AL 2,054,627

MANUF'CTURE OF LAMP STEMS Filed Nov. 24, 1934 9 smts-sheet 'I INVENTORS 965 6% 967 `i EMM G .TAM

l l b5 mman, KWM

+Mw! ATTORNEYS Sept. l5, 1936. A, HQFMANN E1- AL 2,054,627

MANUFAGTURE oF LAMP sTEMs 'n Y Filed Nov. 24, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 gez . INVENTORS:

A b1) W' A-Www ATTORNEYS' Patented sept. is, 1936 I t Y 2,054,627

UNITED STATESV PATENT OFFICE IVIANUFACTUREl OF LAMP STEMS Alfred Hofmann, Palisade,l and Donald G. Trutner, North Arlington, N. J., assignors to Alfred Hofmann & Company, West New York,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 24, 1934, Serial No. 754,588

35 claims. (ci. 17e-s) This invention relates to lamp stem manufacthe coiled or other -lament without the usual turing apparatus, having reference to the quanneed of manual twisting of the hooks into the tity manufacture of the so-called stern. parts of proper facing direction; this object being renincandescent electric lamps of various classes; dered possible by reason of the mode of supplying 5 and pertains especially to the feeding of leadand supporting the wires by their hooks and ad- 5 Wires intoassembled relation with the other com- `vancing and transferring them accordingly. A ponents of the stem. A completeI stem making further object is to simplify the heads by elimimachine is illustratedin Patent Number 1,990,258 hating therefrom the usual positioning means or of February 5, 1935, to which reference may be stops for the leadwireswhich determinexthe ver- 4l0 had for various details of construction and opertical location ofthe wires in the stem, and the 10 ation not herein fully disclosed; In the machine consequent troublesome adjustment f a large of said prior Patent 1,990,258 the leadwires are number of heads for a change .in lamp size or set into place manually in relation to the other or kind; this being `accomplished Aby transferring glass eomponents'of the Stemy al] held in a System Each Wlle t0 the head and'holding il) there at the l5 of chucks constituting a head, and there being a COIIeCt height and DOStiOn until engaged by the 15 series or procession of such heads arranged and Wire ChllCk in the head. operated t0 advance progressively around e, desig- Further and more detailed statements of object nated path or orbit,l from station to'station, for and advantage Will be explained in, the hereinthe performing -of the successive steps' in the after following descriptionof an illustrative emmanufacture of the complete lamp stems, includbOdiIneni 0f .the Present inVeni'liOn .01' Will 'be 20 ing the uniting of the components. y understood by those conversant with the subject; y It has been' heretofore attempted to infeed the invention consisting in the novel features of leadwires by automatic mechanism, one system InetliOd. Operation. Combinei'fen. `arrangement being that shown in expired Patent 1,019,457 of and COHSIUCOH diSClOSed by drawing 0r descrip- March 5, 1912 wherein lengths of Wire are drawn tion. 25.

from reels and -severed and the loose Wires In the aCOOmpanying drawings Figure f1 isa top dropped into place in the heads. Other mecha- Plan VieW 0f a Portion Of e lamp Stem I'nelr'lllfac-v nisms have been tried or patented; but none have turing machine or apparatus embodying the presbeen entirely satisfactory as to eiiiciency, accuent inVeniiOn. With Certain heed Darts 'OIIeracy 0r reliability, e Aspondingl with the disclosure in said prior Patent 30 The general object of the present invention is N0. 1.990.258- l to afford a mechanism. for efficiently and accu- Fig- A2 iS e i501J VeW`0f the leadWiIe eSCaperately handling and feeding loose leadwire comment device in horizontal section on the line 2 2 ponents and inserting them in proper'location in 0f Fig. 21. Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 with the the successive traveling heads, and there engaging Darts in a Subsequent DOSiOIL' Fig. 4 iS a right 35 each of them by its holder or chuck, in proper elevation Of the Darts ShOWn in FigS- 2 and 3 position to be combined and vincorporated as al Partly in Section Onihe line 4-4 0f Fig 2. part of the nal product. Particularly, an object Fig- 5. 0n a Smaller Sea-le than Fig. 1, iS a top is to handle mechanically a loose quantity of sepplan view of a greater extent 0f the machine. and

i0 varate preformed leadwires of the kind having With the leedWii'e infeeding mechanism Partly in 4 0 hooked ends, this being done, by engaging them hOIiZOIltal Section 0n the broken line 5 5 0f byv their hooks, so as Ito hang, and guiding and Fig. 6.`- v advancing them in single flle While depending by Fig. 6 iS a left elevation taken Partly in Section their hooks, and then transferring them in suc-U 0n the broken line 6-6 0f Fig. 5, and 0n the same cession to the leadwire chucks of the heads, prefl scale. Fig. 7 is a right elevation of a certain cam 45 erably a pair of leadwires in each cycle, to a chuck Seenill- Fig. 6. adapted to hold the` pair, and preferably setting Fig. 3 iS a front elevation 0n larger Scale than or adjusting the leadwires of each pair vertically Fig. 1 showing the relation of the flare, cane, or longitudinally to their correct height or locaand leedWii'e elements 0f thesiem :during their tion before the closing o-f their chuck. assembling. v 50 A further object is automatically to control the Fig. 9 is a left elevation taken partly in section posture ofeach leadwire, that is thedisposition on the section line 9-9 of Fig. 1, and on the or direction of facing of its hook, for example outsame scale. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a fixed wardly or from the center of the lamp stem, so as bracket member giving support to several movto stand ready for the subsequent reception of able parts. 55

Fig. 11 is a substanuuy front elevation showing the left leadwire supply container and receiving track and cooperating parts, partly in section on the section line iI-il of Fig. 1, but on larger scale. Figs. 12 and 13 in diagram are partial views similar to the upper part of Fig. 11 showing the same parts in different stages of operation..

Fig. 14, onthe samescale as Fig. 5, is a front elevation of the supply container and its operating connections. Fig. 15 is a right elevation showing certain details of the connections of Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the arrow i5 on Figs. 5 and 14.

Fig. 16 is a front elevation of one of the heads of the `turret showing especially the leadwire chuck and cooperating parts. Fig. 1'7 is a top plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a left elevation of the left hand receiving track, escapement device, intermittent advancing device and rotary delivering device, on the same scale as Figs. 1 and 9, with certain operating connections therefor.

Fig. 19 is an exploded view of the transferring leadwire gripper. Fig. 20 on an enlarged scale is a top plan view cf the assembled gripper showing the jaws open in full lines and closed in dotted lines.

Fig. 21 is an elevation in substantially front view, partly in section taken generally on the line 2i-2I of Fig. 1, and more particularly on the broken line ZI-Zi of Fig. 18.

Fig. 22 is a top plan view, similar to a part of Fig. 1, on a larger scale, but partly in section on the line 22-22 of Fig. 23, especially showing the rotary delivering device by which the successive leadwires on the track are brought into gripping taken on the line 23-23 of Fig.- 22. Figs. 24 and 25 are views similar to Fig. 22 showing the parts in dierent stages of position. Fig. 26 is an exploded view of the parts maklng up the rotary delivery device.

Fig. 27 is a top plan view, partly in section on the line 21-21 of Fig. 9, on the same scale as Fig. 1 but with the transfer device shown as swung over rearwardly and in its inverted position, and with certain of the upper parts omitted to disclose better the construction of the lower parts which are not seen in Fig. 1 and are only partly seen in Fig. 5.

Fig. 28 is a plan view like a part f Fig.` 27 with certain upper parts omitted to show .certain lower parts.

Fig. 29 is a top plan view of the front end of the retractible leadwire-guiding or steering member operating near the turret head to assist proper descent of the leadwires into their chuck. Fig. 30 is a front elevation of the member shown in Fig. 29.

Fig. 31 is a side elevation of the completed lamp stem according to said Patent 1,990,258.

The finished product or lamp stem may be built up from the following components: the nare A or main tubular part of the product, the cane or rod component B serving later to give support to a lament, the leadwire or leadwires C extending through the flare from above to below, and an exhaust pipe or tube D, Fig. 31. After the assembly of these components by means of the several chucks in each of the heads they are to be united by heating and accompanying operations, the lower end of the flare being thereby collapsed and closed, forming a fused connection with which the cane is combined and in which the leadwires are embedded, and the exhaust pipe being later united with the are by a fused connection, as shown, at which a perforation is blown so that the exhaust pipe may subsequently be in communication with the interior of the lamp, for exhausting or gas-filling the same; all

' generally as shown in said Patent 1,990,258.

The present invention deals with a certain well known type of leadwire C wherein at one end is a small hook C that subsequently facilitates the connecting of the filament to the leadwires. Said leadwire also preferably has a short section Ca composed of a special kind of wire welded to the sections above -and below it, the special wire section C2 being the part that becomes embedded in the fused connection and having a coefficient of l5 thermal expansion substantially equaling that of glass.

'Ihe present invention utilizes and takes advantage of the small hook C at one end of each leadwire, namely by the provision of a receiving 20 and feeding device or chute, shown in the nature of a track, strip or edged bar over which the wire hook engages and along which the wire is advanced from the supply point to the-means for transferring successive wires into the traveling 25 heads of the machine. The entire mechanism for handling each one of the two wires usually arranged in a lamp may be symmetrically duplicated for the other wire, so that at each cycle two wires are transferred and inserted in proper 30 position inside of the :dare in the advancing head and into engagement with the chuck or holder which holds the leadwires in their proper relative position until the heat-softening and uniting actions havetaken place. In each of the twin feed mechanisms the wires are advanced in single file, and the transfer mechanism takes one from each side as stated; but this arrangement may be varied according to circumstances, and one feed mechanism may advance two wires in 40 tandem to the transferring gripper.

A particular advantage of the described arrangements is that the positions of the wire hooks are `taken into account, that is, the directions at which they extend from the wires, so that after the Wires have been assembled and thereafter united in the finished product thehooks will stand in the desired positions, usually outwardly from the axis of the lamp stem, whereas with any prior system with which applicants are familiar the wires have been inserted haphazard and the hooks therefore have been required regularly to be repositioned prior to the attachment of the illaments thereto.

The described type of hooked wire receiving device is simple and lends itself to the effective and accurate handling of this small component of the lamp stem. Thus ,the individual hooked leadwires are not required to be placed by hand upon the receiver, chute or track, but may be supplied thereto automatically by means of an open wire container or supply cup whichin each operation is shifted or swung toward the chute, causing the body of wires therein to flop across to overlie the top edge of the receiver or track, a relatively lowering movement of the supply thereupon causing an indeterminate but substantial number of leadwires, on the average, to be hooked and caught upon the top edge of the receiving member ready for the subsequent advancing, spacing and Atransferring operations. The repeated movements of the supply group of leadwires is in the nature of a brushing action, the track pulling the leadwires by their hooks out of the cup. Broadly viewed, the receiver or track for the hooked Wires might 75 be of a movable or rotary character to advance the Wires, but a fixed track is preferably set at an incline so that the wires are moved along by gravity.

The described form of xed chute or track also is well adapted to the single or spaced feeding of the supplied leadwlres, by means rst of certain separating or escapment means, and means for further feeding or advancing them beyond the escapment, bringing eventually eachl of the successive wires to the delivery point, whereat the transferring device takes charge ofthe wire, or two or more wires, transferring them to a position adjacentto the taveling head and preferably inverting them during such transfer, so that each hook will be at the lower end as is customary, and thereupon lowering the leadwlres into their assembled position in the head. .Theleadwire chuck in the head is coordinated with the wire gripping device of the transfer mechanism so that the former closes upon the wire to hold it before the latter opens for its return movement..

Referring rst to some of the general machine parts, corresponding generally with said Patent 1,990,258 and shown in Figs. 5, 6, 27 and others herein, there is a horizontal frame member or table 6I of generally circular form, to the central part of which is attached a flanged sleeve 62 giving support to a fixed interior vertical sleeve 63 within which is guided a vertically reciprocable rod 625 communicating certain motions as de# scribed in Patent.1,990,258. At the top of the sleeve 63 is a fixed closing disk or cap 64 upon which certain parts are mounted. Therotary turret or carrier 61 is in the nature of a ring of large diameter, having a depending flange'upstanding from a web 68 turning on a portion of the frame table, resting upon a shoulder thereof., and held down by the flange of the sleeve 62. In Fig. 6 these parts are broken away for condensation of illustration, The outer or higher part of the turret 61 gives support to the vseries of heads to be described and a cover piece or cap 69 overlies a portion of the turret4 and extends inwardly adjacent to the fixed cap disk 64. `Y

The turret is preferably advanced in step by stepv manner, pausing at certain stations'for an appreciable time for the successive operations,.but some operations being eiectedduring advancing travel. An intermittent drive means is indicated, corresponding to Patent 1,990,258 comprising depending studs or rollers 10 at the underside of the turret web 68, see Fig. 5. These studs are engaged successively by a cam 1| advancing the heads by one space in each cycle, this cam being at the periphery of a cam wheel 12 mounted on a drive shaft 13, which may be turned at a low speed, such as one turn'in five seconds by a speed reduction drive from` a power shaft, not shown.

Through bevel gears 82 a second drive shaft 83 is driven from the drive shaft 13.

Around the turret may be mounted twenty-five, or more or less, heads each having chucks or holders to receive the flare and other components and hold them during the various operations un# v as to the leadwire chuck. Each of the chucks is not only openable and closable but, with the exception of the flare chuck, having a permanent axial position, each may be swingable to and from the vertical axis or center of the head. The flare chuck comprises right and left jaws |I3 and I I4. Included in the connections for opening and closing the flare jaws is a vertical rock shaft |20 turning in the hollow column |03 and constantly pressed toward vclosed position by surrounding spring I2I. This shaft |20 is herein utilized, convtrary'tosaid Patent 1,990,258 as an axle or bearing for a sleeve |1| carryingone of the jaws lof the reconstructed leadwire chuck as will be further described.

The exhaust pipe chuck comprises a relatively fixed holding jaw I 25 and a relatively movable jaw |26 carried at the top of a rock sleeve |21 -by a swinging carriage |26.

At its front side the head |00 carries a swinging or rocking carriage |50 which, as in said Patent 1,990,258 carries the chuck for the cane, comprising fixed and movable jaws |59 and |60, the carriage swinging the chuck fro'ntwardly for the infeed of the cane, and rearwardly to bring the cane to the central axis, and nally frontwardlyfor delivery of the completed product. The carriage |50 'is mounted at the top end of a rock Asleeve II taking its bearing on a vertical rod |52 turning in upper and lower brackets |09 and |I0 in the head. The sleeve I5I carries a rocky arrn |53 with a cam roll |54 by which the bodily movements of the carriage |50 are effected as described in said Patent 1,990,258. The connections for these movements need not be described, since the functioning of the carriage |50 for the purposes of the present improvement takes place only whenin its rearward or centrally swung position, the frontward and return yswinging' movements having nov relation to the handling of the leadwlres.

In said Patent 1,990,258A Lhecarri'age |50 supports not only the cane chuck but both jaws of the leadwire chuck. In the present application the carriage |50 supports only the first or relatively fixed jaw |69 for the leadwlres, the other or movable jaw being independently mounted. At the free extremity of the carriage |50 it is formed with an enlargement or block |51, see Fig. 17, which supports the fixed jaw |59 for the cane andthe fixed jaw |69 for the leadwire.

As disclosed herein the relatively fixed leadwire jaw |69 is swivelled on a pin or pivot |698, to permit a slight rocking movement for equalization during the closingof the chuck, the rear part of the jaw member beingv recessed to receive loosely a limiting pin |68. v`The other or relatively movable leadwire jaw |10 is herein shown mounted on a rock lever I1I, the hub of which is secured on a vertical roeksleeve I1I surrounding the lower part of the vertical shaft |20 rocking in the right column |03, which column is interrupted to receive the hub of the rock lever, as seen in Fig. 16. The rock sleeye I1|a at its lower end carries a rock arm |1Ib with a cam roll I1I? at its extremity by which the sleeve is rocked, by cam connections to be described, to bring about the closing of the movable jaw |10 immediately after the leadwlres have been positioned in the chuck. In the present' application the leadwire channel members and stop means shown in` said Patent 1,990,258 are dispensed with and instead, as will be described, the leadwires are set and held in their proper positions in the head by the leadwire feeding mechanism so that when the jaws close the leadwires are in proper relative position for the uniting operations. Fig. 17 shows jaw 110 in nearly closed position; when fully open it is swung far to the right to clear the swinging movements of jaw |69 with carriage |50.

Said prior Patent 1,990,258 recites in detail the -various cams for causing the swinging and opening and closing movements of the several chucks, all of which it is deemed unnecessary to describe further herein, except as to the meansherein disclosed for the timed operation of the movable leadwire jaw, arranged to be closed immediately after the leadwires have been properly positioned, as already stated. In the prior Patent 1,990,258 the consecutive stations for the heads are lettered a, b, c etc. for the identification of the positions; the iiare being infed at position a, the cane at position c, the leadwires in the neighborhood of position e and the exhaust pipe at position g. Herein the leadwire infeeding Amechanism may be located at the same relative position in the travel of the heads, the leadwires preferably not being introduced and chucked in the head until after the flare and cane have been positioned and chucked, although the present invention is not limited to the precise position or order of infeeding of the several components. Suffice it to say at this point that when each head reaches the leadwire infeeding position the flare and the cane have preferably already been infed and chucked, the operation of the leadwire infeeding mechanism being to feed and introduce one or more leadwires, set them in position spaced from the' axis and at the proper vertical height, and re` lease them there only after the leadwire chuck has closed upon the leadwires, so that as each head moves away from this position it carries these components in their proper relative positions subject to a relative vertical readjustment, preferably of the flare, as described in said Patent 1,990,258; the exhaust pipe being preferably introduced at a later station and adjusted vertically into proper relation to the other three components before the application of heat and the uniting of the components.

vAs stated in Patent 1,990,258 the flare is infed first, preferably laterally from the front, and the .cane then laterally from the front beneath the flare, followed by thelateral infeed of the Wires above the fiare and their lowering into the are and finally the infeed of the exhaust pipe above the flare and its lowering into position. The chucks including the leadwire chuck are preferably timed to close during a pause of the head, by an active cam, the several chucks opening again before or at the delivery position.

The leadwire infeeding mechanism will next be described in substantially the following order. A characteristic element is what will be termed a track, in the nature of a support or chute for holding the leadwires by their hooks C', the leadwires at this stage being in a relatively inverted position, with their hooks uppermost. Next will be described a supply means or device in the nature of a container operated to supply leadwires to the track or support 100. The first part of the track is preferably inclined for gravity feed or advance of the wires, which however then come under definite control and are advanced by parts of the feed mechanism comprising preferably first an escapement device releasing the leadwires one by one, followed by a feeding or advancing device spacing the leadwires and forwarding them in single file, this followed in turn by a delivery device preferably rotary in character delivering the successiveleadwires to the transfer mechanism. The entire construction thus described is preferably provided in duplicate, twin tracks being shown converging from the supply points to the delivery and transfer point, thus to feed two leadwires simultaneously to each head. 'I'hese parts will be described in the order stated, and then will be described the transfer mechanism including-a transfer member or gripper adapted to take hold of each leadwire, or each pair thereof, transfer them rearwardly to a position above the head, preferably inverting them during transfer` so that the leadwire hooks will then extend downward, and finally lower them to a predetermined position in the head, holding them there until the leadwire chuck of the head closes upon the leadwires. Additionally will be described the timed connections or cam mechanism for operating the infeeding mechanism and for closing the leadwire chuck in harmony therewith; also a means properly to guide the leadwires into the chuck and certain detector devices for controlling the actions of the mecha.- nism.

The leadwire track or receiving support 100, at its initial or receiving part, is inclined downwardly in a rearward or advancing direction, as shown in Figs. 9, 18 and elsewhere, leadwires being shown with their hooks C engaging over the track. Gravity is thus used to advance the leadwires along the first part of the track, although another force might be substituted.

At the foot of its incline the track is shown as extended in a continuation b toward the rear, preferably horizontally, along which section the leadwire travel is continued, preferably in spaced relation; and beyond the track portion 100b is a curved track extension 100 around which the successive leadwires are further advanced to the delivering and transferring point. As seen in Fig. 1, this arrangement permits the two opposite tracks to be convergingly arranged, with their curved extensions 100c facing each other in closely spaced relation, this spacing representing substantially the spacing of leadwires in the completed product, and each pair' of leadwires being removed from the curved track extensions by the transferring gripper as will be more fully described. The horizontal track 100b is non-essential as the track may slant from the receiving point to the delivery point.

The three-section leadwire track is shown as a preferably fixed and vertical plate, with the described contour, and with a thin upper edge over which the hooks may engage. For supporting the track member there is provided a bracket bar 10| stiffening and holding the track plate, and having the same'contour, inclined, then horizontal, then curved. The bracket bar in turn ls shown mounted on a supporting block or head 102, with screws 103 attaching the bar to the head and screws 104 attaching the head adjustably to a pair of vertical posts 105, this arrangement permitting the track to be set to the exact required height in the machine. Lower down on the posts 105 is a rod or rail 106 having sliding mountings 101 on the posts 105, this rail, as seen in Fig. 21, serving as a frictional or sliding contact for the depending leadwires C, damping the tendency of the latter to swing, and possibly be dislodged, by reason of their intermittent advancing travel. By way of describing the xed mounting of the vertical posts 105 the description will now pa'ss to the underlying or frame parts supporting the entire leadwire infeeding mechanism.

As best seen in Fig. 6 the fixed frame table 6| has a frontward .extension 1||| supporting the mechanism. Above the extension table is shown a round column 1||, at the top, of which is attached a horizontal shelf 1|2. Extending rigidly upwardly from the shelf 1|2 are xed posts 1 I3, at

the top of which is securedl an upper shelf 1|4 from which directly rise the posts 105 on which the track member 100 is adjustably mounted as described. The frame members 1|0 to 1|4 have various xed extensions bearing the same numbers, with exponents; while the shelf 1|4 carries under it a fixed bracket member or plate 1|5, shown separately in Fig. 10, and above it a bracket 1|6 in the nature of a vertical slideway for the down and up movements of the transfer device carriage and with overlying guide plates 1|6 aud 1|6b confining the carriage; al1 of which will be more fully described.

The leadwire supply device comprises primarily,

for each track 100, a container or cup 12D, its

cylindrical portion being attached to an interior bottom or base 12|. The cylinder 120 is shown screw-attached to the base for vertical adjustment according to the length of the leadwires, and the top surface of` the base is shown as concave so that the leadwires, standing loosely in the. cu with their hooks up, will tend to take a position with their lower. ends central within the cup and their top ends slanting outwardly somewhat to lmovement, so that by chance some of the hooks will overlie the track, the cup being then bodily lowered so far as to remove it and the remaining leadwires below the hooked leadwires, which latter thus become engaged upon the track, the cup then shifting or oscillating back to vertical position and rising for repetition of action'. The loose batch of wires is ythus given a brushing movement against the track edge, themovements relative to the track causing the track to pick' up and lift relatively from the cup several wires at 'each action; and while `the action -might be manual it is-preferably automatic as 'next described. I

Convenient mountings for the leadwire cup movements are illustratively shown, the cup base member having a depending shank 122 passing through and secured by a screw in the upstanding boss of a cross plate or bridge 123 mounted attheiower side o'f a yoke 124, as well shown in Fig.l 1. The yoke has a horizontal stem 125 mounted to permit-tilting of the yoke and cup, and it has also an extension or arm 126 with a contact or roll, through which the cup tilting or oscillation is effected. 'I'he stem 125 of the yoke is mounted to rock in a head 121 supported at the top of a depending shank 12s, which shank The bodily lowering and rising movements of the crosshead may be performed by the following illustrative mechanism. Near the lower end of the shank or sleeve 13| is pivoted a link 133 connecting the shank with the fork 134 of a lever arm 135. The link 133 is of special construction and provides an underneath recess for the relative movements of a rod or shank 144 to be described. The lever 135 is pivoted on a stud 136 mounted at the lower end of a bracket 'Hd attached underneath the extension table 1li). 'The leveris in the nature of a bell crank and its depending arm 131 carries a roll 138 entered in the cam groove 139 of a cam disk 149 mounted on a jack shaft 14| which has itsv bearings in a depending bracket 1||| below the table 1|0. 'The operation of the cam will be subsequently described.

To effect the shifting or tilting movements of the opposite leadwire containers 120 the following illustrative mechanism is shown. The tilting extensions 126 of the yokes which carry the cups have their extremities entered between the upper and lower flanges of a head 143 mounted at the top of a shank or rod 144 which extends downwardly through the hollow shank or sleeve 13| and at its lower end has a head 145 -with a connecting pin that is engaged slidingly by the yoke 146 of an operating lever v141 pivoted on the stud 136 and having a depending arm l14|! carrying the follower 149 bearing on the cam periphery 150 of the disk 140. The peiipheral cam thus swings the lever 146 to tilt t'ne two leadwire cups from and toward each other, while the cam groove operates -the lever 135 to move bodily downwardly and upwardly the described mechanism; and as shown the two cams are coordinated so that the cups are rst tilted from each other and are then lowered and subsequently restored to upright' position and raised to initial position.

Preferably the described supply mechanism is driven at a considerably slower rate than the cycle of the machine, for example one supplying or brushing operation for each three advances of the turret and head system. To effect such drive the jack shaft 14| is shown in Figs. 14 and 15 as carrying a spur gear 152 driven by a `smaller gear 153 onw an upper jack-shaft 154, the latter carrying also a larger gear 155 driven by a` smaller gear 156 mounted on the drive shaft 13. Thus the' supply device is put through methodical operation to insure the constant supply of leadwires to the track, excess supply being prevented by a detector and guard to be described.

Having now described the leadwire tracks and the means for supplying wires thereto there will next be described the cooperating feed mechanism comprising iirst an escapement device, near the lower end of the inclined track, which permitsone leadwire at a time to escape or advance to the next section of the track. Between the bottom ofthe incline and the horizontal section is formed a shallow notch 159, Fig. 4, fromwhich the successive leadwires are advanced in spaced relation along the horizontal section. The escapement 'device is shown in Figs. 1-4 and Figs. 9, 18 and 21. It comprises primarily a pair of escapement lingers 160 and 16| shown in right elevation in Fig. 4 and in top view in Figs. 2 and 3, Figs. 2 and 4 showing one position of the parts and Fig. 3 a subsequent position. The nger 160 is to the front' .of and slightly higher than the nger 16|, and

is seen out of 'engagement with the leadwires. The two fingers have curved or bevelled extremities to assist their engaging the leadwires. In Figs. 2 and 4 the rear finger 16| is-shown as confining the foremost leadwire on the inclined track, while the front finger 168 is retracted lever parts.

rghtward at a slightly higher level. The two fingers may be slightly flexible but are preferably in fixed relation and move left and right acrossthe path of the leadwire hooks. As the fingers move leftward from the Fig. 2 to the Fig. 3 position the front upper finger 166 first engages and holds back the second leadwire and those beyond, the continued movement then causing the rear lower finger to release the rst leadwire to complete its descent to the notch 159 in readiness for the horizontal feeding operation. On the return or rightward-movement the rear finger 16| again enters the path of the leadwires before the release thereof by the front finger, so that at the end of the rightward movement the parts resume the position shown 1n Figs. 2 and 4.

The fingers 16| and 16| are each provided with a shank or stem 162 and the two stems are mounted in a carriage or bar 163, being adjustable therein. The carriage bar 163 in turn is adjustably mounted by means of a slot 164 in the carriage cooperating with a slot 165 in a vertical lever 166, a bolt and nut 161 passing through. the two slots and holding the parts in their proper adjustment. Another adjustment is provided in the form of a'sliding connection near the middle of the lever 166, for lengthening or shortening the lever, comprising a slot 168 in the upper lever part and a bolt 169 securing together the two The lever 166 is 'adapted to swing leftward and rightward to operate the escapement fingers as described, being mounted on a pivot axle 118 at its lower end, this axle being supported on the bracket member 1|5, as shown also in Figs. 9 and 10.

The swinging of the upright lever 166 to reciprocate the escapement fingers or blades may be controlled by cam or other connections from a shaft of the machine. For Athis purpose the lever has a rearwardly projectingpivot stud 112 of considerable length since the operating connections thereto are arranged to have, in addition to their swinging movement, a sliding movement lengthwise of the stud, that is, rearwardly and forwardly, for the purposes of the step-by-step feeding device yet to be described. The stud 112 therefore has pivotally and slidlngly engaged upon it a transverse link 113 extending from a stud 115 on the upwardly extending'arm 116 of a bell crank lever which has a leftward extending arm 111 and is fulcruined on a pivot stud or axle 118 on the bracket member 1|5, also shown in Fig. 10. When the bell crank lever is rocked this eects the required swinging movements of the upright lever 116 and the escapement ngers. is shown pulling down the lever arm `l'11 and said arm carries a follower or roll 18| which is thus maintained in engagement with the peripheral cam 182 of a cam disk 183 mounted on a shaft 185 having its bearings in brackets 1|l|e depending from the frame shelf 1|4.

The connections for turning the cam shaft 185 in coordination with the cycle of the machine may be as follows. carries a bevel gear 181 at its front end and this 4gear engages a complementary bevel gear 188 mounted on a sleeve 189 turning looselyon the front fixed post 1 I 3, andthe sleeve having a lower A spring As seen in Figs. 9 and 18 the shaftk bevel gear 199 whichin turn engages a bevel gea-r 19| on a horizontal shaft 192 extending across the front of the machine and symmetrically communicating drive to the shafts 185 at both sides and to the escapement and other devices actuated thereby. For driving the shaft 192 it is shown as provided with a bevel gear 194 loose upon, but normally clutched to, the shaft as will be later described, this bevel gear being engaged by a bevel gear 195 mo'unted on a vertical shaft 196 having its bearings in the lower shelf 1|2 and a lower bracket 1|0b. At its lower end the vertical shaft 196 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 carries a bevel gear 191 engaging a bevel gear 198 on a horizontal shaft 199 turning in the depending brackets 1|0 and near its right end carrying a sprocket wheel 800 driven by a sprocket chain 80| from a sprocket wheel 802 mounted directly on the drive shaft 83. "By the escapement device and its actuating connections thus described one leadwire is released in each cycle while the succeeding leadwires are restrained, by the operation of the blades or fingers 168 and 16|.

` While the inclined portion of `the, track 100 might be continued at an incline to the point where each leadwire is delivered to the transfer mechanism, preferably a horizontal track portion '1Mb is interposed and a succession of leadwires advanced rearwardly therealong in single le or spaced relation by the step feeding device now to be described. A series of fingers or pushers which will bereferred to as a multiple pusher or comb 888 constitutes a convenient step feeding device, this being given an advancing motion along the track, a ,retraction laterally from the track, a return motion parallel to the track and a fourth motion back to the track, in each cycle; these movements serving to advance the spaced leadwires, each leadwire newly received in the track notch 159 being removed and advanced therefrom by the first or front finger, and the last or rear finger placing the foremost leadwire in 4position for delivery and transfer.

The comb or multiple feeder 868 is supported at the upper end of a shank having an upper section 869 adjustably connected by a bolt 8|8 to a lower section 8|| which is mounted directly on a head 8|2 formed at the top end of the upright lever arm 116 already described in relation to the escapement operation. By this means the oscillation of lever 116--111 moves the feeding comb to and from the track, and this entire system is adapted also to slide longitudinally on the pivot axle 118 and the pivot stud 112 already described. The peripheral cam 182 for effecting the oscillating movements has already been described. The sliding or longitudinal movements may be effected from the lever arm 111 as follows. This arm is provided with a lug 8|4 at its rear side carrying a depending pin 8|5 engaged by a face or crown cam 8|6 at the side of the cam disk 183. The two cams 182 and 8|6 on the disk 183 are so coordinated as to give the lateral oscillating and the longitudinal sliding movements of the comb feeder as described. ,v

The delivery device 8|9 of the feed mechanism is best shown in Figs. 21 to 26, see also Figs. 9 and 18. The function of this mechanism is to advance one at a time, with their hooks up, the successive leadwires, taking them from the track section 1||||b beyond the comb feeding device and positioning them to be taken by the gripper member 858 of they transfer mechanism to be described. The delivery device is preferably rotary,

thus permitting two opposite such devices to bex aos-gea? g ,v

' located in closely facing positions so as to supply a leadwire from each side to the gripper, which is double, having opposite pairs of Jaws.`

The rotary delivery device 8|9 is mounted upon a fixed circular base 828 best shown in the exploded view Fig. 26, this base constituting the top of the upright hub 1 |4. Fixedly provided at the top side of the base 828 are an outer-segmental lug 82| and an inner segmental lug 822 cooperating withv the movable parts to be described. The actuation maybe from the horizontal shaft 185 already described, this carrying a bevel gear 823 at its front end engaging a bevel pinion 824 at the foot of an upright shaft 825 turning in the hub 1|4, and which, abovethe base 828 see Fig. 23, is formed with va shoulder 826 supporting certain parts to be described.v The shaft carries alsoman operating cam or eccentric 821 turning with the shaft. Near the top of the s the shoulder 826 is a box or guide member883 shaft it is surrounded by a friction washer 829 for causing rotation of the parts therebeneath, and this washer is pressed downwardly by a spring 838 which in turn is confined by ya washer and nut 83| at the top of the shaft, the shaft thus giving a slip drive to the rotary guide member aas to be described.

The feeding' fingers of the rotary delivery device may be operated by the following connec tions intermediate the shaft 825 and the fingers. Turning loosely on the shaft 825 and resting on having attached to it a cover piece 834., The guide member has a diametrical slideway. 835

which accommodates a radially shiftable slide 831, as best shown in Figs. 23 and 26. The slide or carrier 831 is centrally apertured to accom-V modate th shaft cam 821'; the cam cooperating with the contact surfaces 838 f the slide to move the latter radially back and forth in the slideway 835. The slide is provided at one end with a depending lug 839 cooperating with the xed lugs 82| and 822 already described; The feeding members comprise a pair of fingers 84| outstanding directly from the other end of the slide 831, and above the slide at this end extends a post v882, the head 843 of which carries an outstanding feed finger 844. As seen in Fig. 23 the feed finger 844 is at the proper height tooverreach the track section 188 and engage the leadwire C for pushing it around the track, the lower fingers 84| being merely to engage the lower part of the leadwire to prevent pendulum movements thereof.

The rotary elements, the slide 831 and its guide 833 are idle during part of each cycle and in fact go through a complete cycle only in two rotations of shaft 825; hence at the gears 823-824 the shaft is geared up to double speed to coordinate the delivery device to the feeding and Itransferring cycle. The motions of the rotary members 833 and 831 and the feed lingers carried by the latter may be as follows. Figs. 1, 10, 18, 21 and 22 show what may be called the initial position. The

slide lug 839 is radially out and bears againstfixed lug 82|, so the friction drive by shaft 825 is ineective. The vslide may be considered as retracted and the fingers 84|, 844 are radially in. As the shaft turns the cam 821 cornes into action and shifts the slide to. move the fingers out, timed to occur just after the comb`888 has pushed the foremost wire to the position shown in these-gures. Simultaneously of course,at its other end,

the slide shifts the lug 839 in. This movement disengages the lug from the outer fixed lug 82|, and the friction drive acts to rotate the parts -to the short extent necessary to bring the lug 838 against the inner fixed lug 822, the leadwire thus during this pause the transfer gripper closes on the leadwire, in fact on two leadwires, one at each side. The continued rotation of the shaft next causes the cam to reverse the slide, thus retracting the ngers and shifting outward the lug 839. Fig. 25 shows this position. Being released from both fixed lugs the lug 839 is free and the parts at once rotate, by friction, entirely around to the initial position of Figs. 22 and 23. 'Ihe return movement to initial positon is thus preferably in the same rotary direction as the short feed movement, obviating any need of reversal of rotation.

I'he transfer mechanism comprises a double gripper 858 mounted to transfer each pair of leadwires from the two opposite delivery devices to a position over the head, preferably operating to invert leadwires during transfer, and then to lowerthem into the leadwire chuck in the head. 'I'he gripper engages the leadwires somewhat below the hooked top ends thereof, and in order that the gripper may accompany the wires to their final position it is constructed quite thin and rod-like so as to enter between the wires to y grip them and so as to pass down with the wires into or through the glass are, thus keeping con- -trol throughout. By the inversion the hooks become placed downward, and the gripper carries them downto a predetermined height in the head so that the chuck may then close and the gripper then open, leaving the leadwires chucked in position for uniting with the glass components, and indeed with `the leadwire hooks in a predetermined position, preferably. extending 'outwardly v of the leadwires, as indicated in Fig. 20. Preferably both pairs of jaws are movable', and a convenient mounting is shown for this action, consisting of a hollow stem or sleeve 855 for Athe jaw head 853, and a stern 856 for the jaw head 854, in the formof a rod extending through the stem 855. At the foot of the hollow stern 855 is a pinion 851 and at the foot of the rod stem 856 is a pinion 858 at a slightlylower level than the other pinion, for actuation in opposite directions by opposite toothed racks.v By this construction the gripper is slender and rod-like and so adapted to enter between the two leadwires to 60 be gripped and to descend with them into the flare.

The mountingsv of the transfer gripper are shown in front position in Figs. land 9, while Figs. 5, 6 and 27 show the rear position after the `transfer and inversion of the gripper. The outer sleeve 855 extends through and rotates in a shiftable bearing member 868 wherein it is con- 'fned by the pinion 351 and a collar 859 on the sleeve.

withstanding the inverting swing of the carrier 86| and the vertical sliding movements of the i carriage 861. It is only necessary therefore to move the contact bar 899 rightward and leftward to cause rearward and return movements of the gripper racks and the consequent vopening and closing of the gripper. The bar however has also an idle movement further leftward during which the actuating connectionsv control the head chuck closing in coordination with the gripper opening, as will be later described. 'I'he connections for theactuation of the contact bar 899 include a lever 900 to which the bar is secured, said lever being mounted at the upper end of a vertical fulcrum shaft 90| turning in an upper bearing 1|2b and the lower shelf 1|0, the lower end of said shaft having a rock arm 902 connected by a llong curved link 903 with a lever arm 904 pivoted on a bracket 6 |b depending from the frame table 6 I, the lever having a second arm 905 which is bent and at its extremity carries a cam roll 906 engaging the groove of a cam 901 on the drive shaft 13, see Figs. 5 and 6. The roll 906v is shown at a midway position indicating. that the head chuck jaw |10 has closed upon the leadwires and the gripper is about to open. Figs. 1 and 27 show in dotted lines the position the lever 900 and vertical contact bar 899 take when the head chuck is closed.

By the described connections 893 to 906 the cam 901 causes the movements of the racks 89|, 892; and the timing of the cam is such that the racks will close the gripper immediately after each pair of leadwires has been delivered at gripping position, and will hold it closed during the transferring, inverting and llowering movements, and until the leadwire chuck in the head has been closed, the gripper thereupon opening to permit its return rising and swinging movements.

Preferably the same cam 901 is used to effect the closing of the leadwire chuck in the head, thus insuring the proper timing of the gripper and the chuck, the latterclosing slightly before the formerl opens. The connections from the cam 901 to operate the leadwire chuck may be as follows, recalling that the cam roll |1| on the head governs the open or closed position of the chuck jaw |10. The cam 901 operates through the arms 905 and 904 and the link 903 already described, and from the link 903 is shpwn extending an additional link 9|0 to a rock arm 9| with a yielding pivot 9|2 between the link and rock arm. 'I'he arm is mounted at the lower end of a vertical rock shaft 9|3, turning in a bearing 6| on the frame table 6|, see Fig. 6, and this shaft at its upper end carries a bent rock arm 9| 4 having an upper offset and at the top thereof a cam track section 9|5 cooperating with the cam roll |1|= which controls the leadwire chuck.A As already explained the leadwire chuck is closed by a spring, but it is held open, as it comes to position, by a fixed cam track 9|1 shown in Fig. 5. 'I'he cam roll rolls along the front edge of the fixed track 9|1, thus holding the chuck in open position, and as the head comes into leadwire receiving position the `cam roll runs from the fixed track 9|1 to the movable track section 9|5, which is then in alinement with the fixed track and continues to hold open the leadwire chuck. At the proper moment the cam 901 operates to swing the rock lever 9| |-9|l, the track section 9|5 thereby being swung rearwardly. to the position shown in Fig. 5. lThis movement allows the cam roll |1|c to shift rearwardly with the result that the leadwire chuck jaw |10 is closed by its spring. The two leadwires are thus gripped by the leadwire chuck 'in the head, and4 following this action the continued movementl of cam 901 causes the gripper to open as described, the connection 9|2 yielding during this movement.

When the transfer mechanism descends bodily to lower the pair of leadwires into their assembled position indicated in Fig. 31 itis important vsite'spreading or guiding surfaces 920 engaging and deecting the respective leadwires. This spreader being mounted on a fixed-part of the machine serves for each of the heads as they come to position and thus simplifies the construction of the heads by obviating the need of movable spreading members on the heads.

'I'he spreader 9| 9 however requires to be` retracted rearwardly after each operation in order to permit the travel of the heads. For this purpose the rear end of the spreader bar 9|9 is shown as formed with an upstanding stud 92| f connected by a link 922 with a bell crank lever 923 pivoted on a rising extension at the rear end of the bracket 64a. Said bracket -has an cverhanging part 61|b confining the spreader bar. A spring 92| is arranged to pull upon the bell crank thereby tending to slide the bar forwardly into operative position. The retracting movements of the bar may be effected by a depending connecting rod 925 extending do'wn to the rear arm of a bell crank 926 pivoted on the bracket Gla. The short depending arm of the bell crank 926 carries a pin 921 engaged with lost motionin the slot `929 of a link 929 of curved shape having its front end pivoted to or operated by the same follower 884 that actuates the bell crank 882 through which the transferring and lowering movements are effected.

The spreader bar 9|9 is thereby operated from the cam groove 885, the spreader coming forward intoposition as the transfer gripper lowers the leadwires into the head. It is so shown in one set of dotted lines in Fig. 6, and thel cam 885 will next operate to retract fully the spreader to the`other set of dotted lines, clear of the head, to permit advance of the latter. However a quick partial retraction is first necessary to allow the final descent of the gripper and flare, and Fig. 6 in full lines shows this partially retracted position. Forlthis purpose the bell crank 926 is shown as formed with a third arm 992 carrying a follower cooperating with the cam lug 881 on the cam disk 886 already mentioned, this cam lug being timed to give the preliminary retraction of the spreader bar, to clear the gripper and flare at the center of the head, after the leadthe other elements may be reviewed as follows, referring to Fig. 8. As the transfer gripper 859 lowers the leadwires it passes through the position shown in full lines, this being the instant at whichthe depresser foot 862 has contacted the top of the flare. The spreader 9|9 has stood frontward and performed its function of steering the leadwires outwardly out of conflict with the ribs 889 and has withdrawn rearwardly out of the path of the descending flare and gripper. The lowering movement continues, and the are and gripper are lowered to the dotted position of Fig.

8, bringing the leadwires C to the desired height'.u

The parts there-pause with the flare surrounding the cane and the leadwires, and the leadwire chuck jaw |10 then closesl into its dotted line position to hold the leadwires; following which the gripper opens and then rises out of the flare for return to receiving position.

The supply device comprising the cups 120 by which the leadwires are supplied upon the tracks 10|) is necessarily more than suiliciently efiicient to supply the leadwires at the rate at which the machine will-consume them; and there has therefore been provided a means to stop the supply operation when the leadwire track isfilled up to a predetermined point. Preferably this control as a curved plate extending over the top of each track and outside the track being connected to a shank 936 which is adjustable for height and isprovided with an adjustable stop screw 931 contacting the fixed bar 10| to determine the operative position of the guard. At its lower end the shank 936 is attached to a swinging block 938 pivoted on a stud 939 mounted in the bracket 1 |43. Attached also to the block is an outward extension plate 946. Extending from the bracket 1 |4a is a fixed plate 1|4 and upstanding therefrom is an extension plate 1 |4d on which is mounted a solenoid 942 having a cooperating core 943, the lower end of which has a loose pivotalA connection with the extension 940. By this arrangement when the solenoid is energized to lift the core this swings the guard 935 from retracted to operative position.

'I'he leadwire supply preventer or guard device may be electrically operated through a feeler 945 adapted, when the track is lled with leadwires up to the position of the feeler, to cause the contacting of a pair of electrical contacts 946 mounted in opposition respectively upon a movable spring 941 and a relatively fixed spring 948, the former spring carrying the feeler 945. The contacts are normally slightly separated, but when the feeler comes in contact with a leadwire as seen in Fig. 13 this causes the contacts to meet, thus closing an electric circuit, not shown, extending at each side to the corresponding solenoid' and, thus causing the guard to swing over the track and restrain the leadwire supply action. The two springs 941 and 948 are connected by insulated bolts 949 to an upright carrying lever 950 fulcrumed on the axle 110. The lever also supports electric terminals 95| and 952 that are connected respectively to the springs and contacts and to the solenoid circuit. The lever- 959 has an operating extension 954 gn which is a contact screw 955 adjustable to regulate the extent of movement of the detector or feeler 945 toward the track 160. A spring 956 pulls the lever toward its retracted position.

For swinging the two detector levers 950 to detecting position at each supply operation, their adjusting screws 955 both bear upon a central T- shape operating lever 958, so that when the lever' is swung upwardly it will lift both extensions 954 and move both levers 959 outward as in Figs. l2 and 13. 'I'he lever 958 is fulcrumed on a special bracket 1|5 on the bracket plate 1|5, and the lever has a depending arm 959 carrying a roller 960 which is operated by the vertical rising movement of a cam plate 96| mounted on the crosshead 13|! by which the supply containers are lifted.

The operation of this vcontrol device is that in each lifting movement of the supply device the vertical cam plate 96| comes into operation to throw the lever 958 and therefore the two levers 950, thus swinging each detecting device toward the track. As long as each track is not filled with leadwires up to this point the usual supply operations will take place as indicated in Figs. 11 and l2 the feeler 945 passing closely over and beyond the track. When however either track is filled up to this point the device at that side is operated -by the presence of the leadwires, as in Fig. 13, thus causing the guard to shift laterally and prevent access of the leadwire supply to the track.

' Another control device comprises a detector or feeler 965 shown in Figs. 1, and 27 in the form of alight nger adapted to be contacted by the flare A in each head atthe station next before that at which the leadwires are fed into the head, with connections such that when the flare is missing from the head thel operation of feeding and the horizontal step feeding operations are,

derived, so that when the clutch is open a. pair of .leadwires is not placed in position for the transfer gripper to take and carry over and down into the head. The detecting or feeling finger 965 is shown as formed at one end of a bellcrank lever 966- fulcrumed on a bracket 1|2 on the lower shelf 1|2. 'Ihe left arm of the bellcrank is shown connected by a long link 968 with a'rock arm 969 mounted on a vertical rock shaft 910 having at its top end a rightwardly extending rock arm 91|. Pivoted to the rock arm 91| is a clutch control pin 913 sliding in a fixed bracket 1|2 on the lower shelf. The clutch on the shaft 192 may be driven by the bevel gear 194 loose on the shaft but held between shoulders or collars. The driven clutch member 914 is shown as keyed to rotate with the shaft but slidable longitudinally thereon. Formed with the driven clutch member 9 14 is a cam or collar 915, its right hand edge constituting a cam cooperating with the control pin 913. The driven clutch member also has a clutch pin or dog 916 cooperating with a corresponding rece'ss in the driving clutch member 911 formed at the left side of the bevel gear 194. Surrounding the shaft is a spring 918 tending to press the driven clutch member toward the driving clutch member, thus causingthe dog 916 to enter the recess in the driving clutch member, when the two come into line, giving a positive drive with definite relation between the driving and driven parts.

In Figs. 1 and 5 the are is shown as present in the head with which the feeler is cooperating,

but in Fig. 27 the flare is missing and the clutch 914, 911 is shown open. The opening of the clutch is effected by the action of the pin 913 on the cam 915, causing the driven clutch member to cam itself .leftward, thus disengaging the clutch and causing immediate stoppage of the leadwire feeding mechanism, to be reengaged at theend of one rotation. As each head comes along containing a flare the pin 913 is retracted in time to prevent the clutch opening operation, so that the drive of the shaft 912 and the leadwire feeding operations will continue regularly until a head comes along wherein the flare is missing.

As hereinabove stated, the step or comb feeding device may be dispensed with by omitting vthe horizontal length lill()b of track andinclining the track Vall the way from the leadwire receiving point to the transfer point where the gripper takes the leadwires, one from each track .for transfer to the head chuck. The leadwire supply means, in such modified apparatus, is preferably near the front upper end of the track and the track from this point is slanted steeply enough toward the rear to insure gravity feed. The escapement device is near the rear lower end of the track, the track therebeyond however being continued at a downward slant and curved as before described, so that the opposite feed mechanisms may bring each pair of leadwires, after release by the escapements, into facing relation at each side of the transfer gripper. The extreme lower end of the track has a shoulder or stop to position the leadwire in its transfer position, and a simple auxiliary device may be employed in lieu of the rotary device 8|!! to insure that each pair of leadwires travels clear to the end of the tracksv prior to the closing of the gripper. With such construction the track and the, escapement are preferably mounted on al vertically adjustable carriage by which the feed mechanism can be bodily set to exactly the correct height required by the length or character of the leadwires or their position inthe product; and this carriage will preferably carry also the guard device for preventing excess supply of leadwires to each track,l also the detecting device or feeler for detecting such excess of leadwires and the solenoid or other actuator by which the guard is positioned to prevent further supply. The escapement device may consist of cooperating fingers as before but working with descending 4and rising movements in relation to the lowermost of the supplied leadwires, rather than lateral movements as already described. The operation of the escapement fingers may be through oscillating levers, with a vertical bar having pushing contact with one of them so as to retain actuating relation notwithstanding vertical adjustments of the carriage, somewhat as bar 899 maintains actuation relation to the lever 896 already described. The solenoid as before may be operated by the closing of a circuit but with a tilting mercury switch, normally open but adapted to be tilted to close the circuit and swing the guard when the track is full of wires to the predetermined point. The feeler may consist of a depending finger or strip carried by a laterally swinging arm, the finger being thereby movable closely over the inclined track, so` that on movement in one direction it may be blocked by the presence of the leadwires, but being hinged like a pawl so as to return freely. vWhen such finger is so blocked it modifies the action of an associated device which normally does not affect the mercury switch, but which, when the feeler is blocked causes the tilting of the switch. As before, the feeler oscillating connections may be actuated in time with the brushing movements of the leadwire container; and the rise of the two containers may be accompanied by the rise of a cam at each side which effects the motion of the feeler in that side, through a vertical contact bar operating upon a lever which thus preserves its relation to the bar despite vertical adjustments. In this modified structure the flare detecting feeler has merely to prevent the release by each escapement of a leadwire, andagainl a contact bar and lever permit the necessary vertical adjustments. The transfer gripper might be' rendered inoperative for the empty head, but preferably is allowed to make an idle movement as with the before described mechanism.

There has thus been illustratively described a lamp stem manufacturing apparatus of the kind referred to embodying the characteristic principles of leadwire infeeding of this invention; since various features of method, operation, combination, arrangement and construction may be modified in many ways without departing from the principles of the invention, it is not intended to limit the invention to suchfeatures except to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A lamp stem manufacturing apparatus of the kind having one or more heads each with holders for holding the leadwire and other components in assembled positions in the head, and having means for uniting the assembled components; said apparatus having mechanisrn for infeeding to each leadwire holder one or more preformed leadwires of the hooked end kind, comprising a leadwire track having a single upper edge adapted to receive leadwires hanging thereon by their preformed hooks and to support them solely by the hook engagement of the wires over the track, means supplying wires into hooked position on the track upper edge, means controlling the leadwires on .the track to advance in single file to the transfer point and means for transferring the advanced leadwires successively Vto position' in the leadwire holders.

2. For a stem making machine, a leadwire infeeding mechanism comprising an inclined track with single edge from which preformed hooked leadwires may depend by their hooks overhanging lsuch edge, and alongwhich they may advance in-single file, and transfer means for gripping such leadwires in succession while on said track and holding each leadwire with its hook in a predetermined lateral position while transferring it to proper position in the stem, with its hook in a definite, lateral position inthe stem predetermined by its engagement upon said track.

v3. A lamp stem manufacturing apparatus of the kind having one or more heads each with holders for holding the leadwire and other components in assembled positions in the head, and having means for uniting the assembled components; said apparatus characterized by mechanism for infeeding to each leadwire holder one or more preformed leadwires of the kind formed with hook ends, comprising a leadwire support or track adapted to receive `and support leadwires hanging thereon by their preformed hooks, a leadwire supply containerl to` carry leadwires in quantity with their hooks up, said support and container arranged to have relative brushing movements between theml for hooking leadwires upon the support, means controlling the leadwires to advance one at a time after engagement on the 

